Fire And Faith

Inquisitor Rynhart stood alone in the dimly lit strategium, the only light emanating from the shifting holographic map of Novaria Prime hovering before him. The map was an intricate projection of the planet’s surface, pulsing with a sickly green hue that highlighted key locations. The details were exquisite, each city, outpost, and geographical feature rendered with almost painful accuracy. Yet, it was the movement of various forces—tiny, ominous markers skittering across the map—that held his attention.
His eyes traced the ominous formations circling Aetheris, the capital, now a silent, enigmatic void. There were no details about these formations in the data logs—only nameless, faceless designations that told him nothing and everything at once. There were also clusters of displaced civilians, refugees desperately trying to escape whatever horrors lurked in the darkened streets. He noted their erratic movements, the haphazard routes that told of fear and confusion, all while trying to reconcile their actions with the cold logic of tactical manoeuvring. The patterns didn’t align, but Rynhart knew that fear had its own logic, one that could upend the best-laid plans.
“...the northern approach remains clear, but we’d be too exposed during the descent. The thermal updrafts around the Tertium Space Port are the least hazardous, but...”
Captain Liora Narek’s voice cut through his thoughts, steady and precise, detailing potential landing sites with the practiced confidence of someone who had spent a lifetime making life-or-death decisions. Her figure, clad in the austere uniform of the Imperial Navy, was disrupted the projections of the holomap as she gestured to the various sites. Yet, her words were a mere hum at the edge of Rynhart’s consciousness. His focus remained on the broader picture—on the interplay of forces and the uncertain future they portended.
The Captain’s voice paused, and the silence drew Rynhart’s gaze. Narek was watching him, her expression neutral, but there was a sharpness in her eyes that suggested she had noticed his distraction.
“Are you listening, my lord?” she asked, her tone respectful but firm.
Rynhart blinked, his mind snapping back to the present. He offered her a brief nod, masking the turmoil of his thoughts. “I am, Captain. Continue.”
She didn’t miss a beat, though there was a hint of scepticism in her gaze. “As I was saying, there are three primary concerns for any insertion. First, the Tertium Space Port. The anomalies around Aetheris make any approach too dangerous for The Emperor’s Justice. If we land there, we’re less likely to encounter immediate resistance, but the dangers posed by the thermal activity and the proximity to whatever forces are moving around Aetheris cannot be ignored.”
Rynhart shifted his gaze to the designated area on the map. Tertium had once been a bustling hub, its port a vital artery for the planet’s commerce and defence. Now it was an unknown, a place potentially crawling with whatever forces had taken control in the aftermath of the Anomaly. He frowned, knowing full well that the port’s silence could be either a blessing or a trap.
“The second priority,” Narek continued, “is Aetheris’ Orbital Defence Emplacements. These emplacements were designed to deter fleet-scale invasions. If they’ve been compromised, any landing attempt could lead to catastrophic fratricide. We’d be at their mercy during descent, and even if we succeed in landing, disabling those emplacements would be a challenge—assuming they’re still operational and not subverted by whatever has taken control of the capital.”
The holomap adjusted to show the defence emplacements, ominous red circles indicating their range and firepower. Rynhart knew that leaving those installations untouched was not an option. If they were active and under hostile control, they would make any prolonged operation in orbit or on the surface nearly impossible. But even more pressing was the possibility that they were still functioning under their original programming—automated defences that might not distinguish friend from foe in the chaos that had engulfed the planet.
“And the third concern?” Rynhart prompted, his voice barely above a murmur, his mind already turning over the implications.
“The 401st Barracks and Mustering Yards,” Narek said, her tone tightening. “It’s been deserted since the anomaly, but its proximity to our approach path and its augur arrays make it a significant threat. Those arrays could detect The Emperor’s Justice as we conduct our approach. If there’s anyone or anything left in control, they could target us with precision before we have a chance to react.”
The map displayed the barracks, a sprawling complex of hardened structures and parade grounds. It had once been the heart of the planetary defence force, a place of discipline and martial pride. Now it stood empty, yet its systems were potentially still active, a sleeping giant that could awaken to swat them from the sky if they made one wrong move.
Narek turned to face Rynhart fully, her expression grave. “There’s little we can do to mitigate these risks. We can take precautions, but the dangers are inherent to the situation. What do you want us to do, Inquisitor?”
For a moment, Rynhart didn’t answer. His gaze flickered over the map once more, his mind weighing the possibilities, the risks, and the potential gains. The situation was delicate, fraught with peril, and he knew that any decision he made could lead to either disaster or success. The forces at play were beyond their understanding, yet the mission remained the same: to uncover the truth behind the Anomaly and to act in the Emperor’s name.
Finally, he turned to her, a humourless smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Trust in the Emperor, Captain. Prepare for descent.”
Narek nodded; her expression unwavering. “As you command, my lord.”
As she turned to leave, Rynhart allowed himself one last glance at the map, at the shifting symbols and the darkened city of Aetheris. Whatever awaited them on the surface, he knew that faith alone would not be enough to see them through. But faith, alongside steel and cunning, was a start.
And in the dark heart of Novaria Prime, they would need every advantage they could muster.